Dr. Dimitri Kusnezov is Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Energy and Chief Scientist for the National Nuclear Security Administration. Using a series of examples, he will provide insight on how science is drawn into time-urgent policy decisions. There are many challenges for how to best inject science into decision processes which are often haphazard, and which require awareness of potential tools and involvement in the policy decisions. These issues can be seen clearly through decisions in the aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi accident, questions about aircraft safety, and policy related to the Gulf oil spill.

Dr. Kusnezov received A.B. degrees in Physics and in Pure Mathematics with highest honors from UC Berkeley. Following a year of research at the Institut fur Kernphysik, KFA-Julich, in Germany, he attended Princeton University earning his MS in Physics and Ph.D. in Theoretical Nuclear Physics. He joined federal service at the National Nuclear Security Administration in late 2001 and is a member of the Senior Executive Service. He is also a Visiting Researcher at Yale University.

Cost: Free

Contacts
Lydia Veliko: lydiav@uchicago.edu

Areas of Focus: Climate Change
Definition
Climate Change
Climate change is an urgent global challenge. EPIC research is helping to assess its impacts, quantify its costs, and identify an efficient set of policies to reduce emissions and adapt...
Climate Law & Policy
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Climate Law & Policy
As countries around the world implement policies to confront climate change, EPIC research is calculating which policies will have the most impact for the least cost.
Energy Markets
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Energy Markets
Well-functioning markets are essential for providing access to reliable, affordable energy. EPIC research is uncovering the policies, prices and information needed to help energy markets work efficiently.
Definition
Well-functioning markets are essential for providing access to reliable, affordable energy. EPIC research is uncovering the policies, prices and information needed to help energy markets work efficiently.